The neem tree

My favourite tree is neem (Azadirachta indica) locally referred to in Kiswahili as Mwarobaini. This is not a native tree but is widely available across my country, Tanzania, due to its adaptable characteristics and value among our communities. This tree does not shed its leaves in the driest months of the year as other tree species do, so it is a very good source of shade in the sunny months. It is also extremely adaptable to poor soils and requires minimal conditions to grow. It’s a good source of poles and is also a medicinal tree that my parents introduced to me and up to now I use it at least once every month.

A short story about this tree is that, when I was growing up in the rural agropastoral settings of northern Tanzania, where we had limited access to health facilities, my mother used prepare a steam therapy from neem leaves. She also made a concoction every week from neem tree and other local medicinal herbs. This helped to keep us fit all year round. I grew up valuing this tree and my dad has planted several in our compound. If you see them, you will definitely recognise them by the chopped parts of its bark and branches.

In our Greening Mpimbwe Campaign, we plant every season and in the last wet season, we planted over 1000 neem trees. Right now, I have prepared two sections in my compound to plant at least 100 neem trees in the coming wet season, for medicinal use and shade.

Emmanuel Stephens Lekundayo is the Project Coordinator, Landscape Mentors Organisation (LCMO), Tanzania.